Competent  Witnesses  on 
Korea  as  a Mission  Field 


STATEMENTS  FRO^M  TWELVE 
MEN  WHOSE  PROMINENCE  AND 
OBSERVATION  QUALIFY  THEM 
TO  SPEAK  WITH  AUTHORITY 


WITH  THE  ACTION  OF  THE  GENERAL  CONFERENCE 
THE  BOARD  OF  BISHOPS,  AND  THE 
GENERAL  COIVIMITIEE  OF 
FOREIGN  MISSIONS 


Korea  Quarter-Centennial  Movement 
Board  of  Foreign  Missions  of  the 
IMethodist  Episcopal  Church 
150  Fifth  Avenue 
New  York 


KOREA’S  RELIGIOUS  SITUATION 
UNIQUE 

BY  GEORGE  H.  SCIDMORE 
United  States  Consul-General  to  Korea 

One  striking  feature  of  Korea’s  present  condition  is  the 
magnificent  work  which  is  being  done  by  the  American  mis- 
sionaries. The  Korean  converts  are  now  becoming  con- 
vinced that  their  adhesion  to  Christianity  will  be  of  no 
advantage  to  their  dreams  of  independence,  and  the  Amer- 
ican missionaries  are  working  faithfully  to  keep  politics  out 
of  the  churches.  The  religious  situation  in  Korea  is  unique. 
The  only  parallel  that  now  occurs  to  me  is  that  of  Hawaii. 
In  Korea  to-day  Christianity  is  not  supplanting  any  estab- 
lished faith,  for  Buddhism,  which  formerly  prevailed,  is  now 
practically  moribund,  if  not  defunct. 

The  people  consequently  manifest  intense  eagerness  for 
Christianity  and  education.  The  Presbyterian  Mission,  if  I 
recollect  correctly,  has  over  seven  hundred  schools  and 
mission  stations  in  the  country,  while  the  Methodists  are  a 
close  second.  The  Church  of  Rome,  the  Church  of  England, 
the  Seventh  Day  Adventists,  the  Salvation  Army,  and 
others  are  industriously  at  work.  The  good  work  of  the  Young 
Men’s  Christian  Association  deserves  special  mention.  In  the 
city  of  Seoul,  on  the  main  street,  one  of  the  finest  and  largest 
buildings  is  that  of  the  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association, 
which  was  built  with  funds  presented  by  John  Wanamaker, 
of  Philadelphia.  Both  the  Korean  and  Japanese  authorities 
have  contributed  liberally  to  its  support.  The  late  Prince 
Ito  was  one  of  its  best  friends.  The  Japanese  authorities 
now  give  this  association  an  annual  subvention  of  ten  thou- 
sand yen,  equivalent  to  $5,000. 

In  short,  I consider  that  at  the  present  time  the  Christian 
people  of  America  cannot  find  a better  or  more  promising 
field  for  the  investment  of  funds  for  the  conversion  of  the 

3 


heathen.  The  people  are  hungering  and  thirsting  for  the 
gospel  and  its  attendant  education  and  civilization,  and  the 
Korean  and  Japanese  authorities  favor  the  movement.  The 
chief  justice  of  Korea  and  a number  of  other  prominent 
Japanese  officials  are  earnest  and  active  members  of  the 
Christian  Church. 

Seoul,  Korea. 


KOREA  THE  FIRST  XOX-CHRIS- 
TIAN  NATION  EVANGELIZED 

BY  JOHX  R.  MOTT 

General  Secretary  World’s  Student  Christian  Federation  and 
Chairman  of  the  Continuation  Committee  of  the 
World’s  Missionar}’  Conference 

I REJOICE  to  know  of  the  Korea 
Quart er-Centemiial  Movement.  In  the 
light  of  my  observation  in  Korea  and  of 
my  touch  with  that  field  by  correspond- 
ence and  study,  I believe  that  this 
advance  movement  is  most  opportune 
and  promising.  If  the  Christian  forces 
of  America  are  true  to  the  leading  of 
the  Spirit  of  God,  Korea  may  become 
the  first  non-Christian  nation  thoroughly  evangelized  in  this 
modern  missionary  epoch.  Moreover,  if  each  of  the  Christian 
communions  providentially  related  to  that  country  carries 
out  generously  and  thoroughly  the  policy  on  which  they 
have  agreed,  it  will  afford  a most  striking  and  attractive 
object  lesson  of  real  Christian  unity.  The  requirements  of 
your  movement  are  entirely  reasonable.  I can  think  of  no 
investment  which  will  \deld  larger  fruitage  from  the  use  of 
the  sum  involved  than  the  one  which  your  movement 
proposes. 

New  York  City. 


4 


KOREA  ONE  OF  THE  MOST  IM- 
PORTANT MISSION  FIELDS 

BY  WILLIAM  JENNINGS  BRYAN 


Korea  is  in  the  midst  of  a remark- 
able revival;  whole  communities  are  em- 
bracing Christianity,  and  the  native 
Church  itself  is  becoming  a missionary 
organization.  I regard  Korea  as  one 
of  the  most  important  mission  fields. 
Some  believe  that  Korea  will  be  the 
pioneer  Christian  nation  in  that  part  of 

Unilevwood  & LJiiiiei'wood  the  WOrld. 

Lincoln,  Nebraska. 

KOREA’S  DAY 

BY  ADNA  B.  LEONARD 

Corresponding  Secretary  of  the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 

Korea’s  day  has  come.  Although  it 
is  among  the  most  ancient  of  all  the 
nations  (now  no  more  a nation),  by 
reason  probably  of  its  seclusion,  it  is  the 
latest  in  the  Far  East  to  attract  the  at- 
tention of  the  West.  The  writer  was 
privileged  to  visit  Korea  in  1893,  eight 
years  after  her  doors  were  thrown  open, 
when  as  yet  but  little  change  had 
taken  place  in  the  conditions  and  customs  of  the  people. 
All  things  remained  as  they  had  been  through  the  thirty  cen- 
turies of  her  history.  Although  there  were  a few  foreigners 
in  Seoul  and  in  some  other  places,  they  had  made  as  yet 
little  impression  upon  the  manners,  customs,  and  religions 
of  the  people.  Our  work  had  been  opened  in  Seoul,  the 
capital,  eight  years  previously,  while  in  Pyeng  Yang,  one 

5 


hundred  and  sixty-seven  miles  to  the  north,  and  in  Che- 
mulpo, twenty-six  miles  to  the  west,  we  had  just  begun 
mission  W’ork. 

It  was  the  writer’s  privilege  to  visit  Korea  again  in  1907. 
During  the  fourteen  years  that  had  intervened  remarkable 
changes  had  transpired.  At  the  former  date  there  was  not  a 
mile  of  railroad  in  the  kingdom,  while  at  the  latter  nearly 
seven  hundred  miles  were  in  operation.  To  a very  con- 
siderable extent  the  city  of  Seoul  has  been  transformed. 
Well-made  and  macadamized  streets  were  constructed,  very 
creditable  public  and  private  buildings  erected,  public  water- 
works established,  and  an  electric  street  railway  system  in- 
stalled. During  these  years  the  Christian  religion  had  not  only 
made  marked  progress  as  to  the  number  of  converts,  but  had 
profoundly  impressed  the  whole  national  life.  In  1893  there 
was  not  a Protestant  place  of  w’orship  in  the  kingdom,  ex- 
cept a very  few  small  chapels  and  halls  in  Seoul  and  Pyeng 
Yang  and  the  open  ports,  while  at  the  present  time  there  are 
many  large,  plain,  substantial  edifices,  each  of  which  will 
accommodate  from  one  thousand  to  twenty-two  hundred 
W'orshipers,  while  there  are  hundreds  of  smaller  comfortable 
houses  of  worship  in  towns  and  villages  and  country  places. 
Now  the  Bible  is  translated  into  the  language  of  the  people 
and  is  rapidly  becoming  a national  book.  The  Christians 
love  the  Bible;  they  carry  it  with  them  when  they  travel 
and  read  it  by  day  and  night.  It  is  reported  on  good  au- 
thority that  seven  hundred  thousand  copies  of  the  Gospel  by 
Saint  Mark  w^ere  bought  by  the  people  in  the  brief  space  of 
five  months.  The  Christians  are  all  evangelists.  A con- 
verted Korean  at  once  pleads  with  the  one  nearest  to  him  to 
accept  Christ,  and  he  does  not  plead  in  vain.  Perhaps  in  no 
other  Oriental  country  are  Christians  so  aggressive  in  their 
evangelistic  efforts. 

Twenty-five  years  ago  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
w^as  founded  in  the  then  Hermit  Kingdom.  Fourteen  years 
ago  her  membership  was  two  hundred  and  fifty-one.  Now 
it  is  about  fifty  thousand.  The  whole  number  of  Protestant 

6 


Christians  in  the  Korean  peninsula  is  approximately  two 
hundred  and  fifty  thousand. 

As  Methodists  we  are,  both  in  Korea  and  America,  cele- 
brating the  quarter-centennial  of  the  founding  of  our  Church 
among  the  peninsular  people.  It  ought  to  be  phenomenal  in 
both  countries.  In  Korea  it  should  increase  largely  all  our 
facilities  for  evangelistic  work  and  double  our  membership, 
while  in  America  it  should  broaden  our  vision,  increase  our 
spirituality,  and  mightily  promote  the  cause  of  foreign  mis- 
sions in  all  our  great  field.  The  evangelization  of  Korea 
during  the  first  half  of  the  present  century  is  practically 
assured.  The  gospel  that  saves  Korea  will  save  China, 
Japan,  and  the  whole  world.  Let  every  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  do  something  extra,  even 
unusual,  for  the  evangelization  and  salvation  of  Korea 
during  this  quarter-centennial  celebration. 

Xew  York  City. 


KOREA’S  REDEMPTION 

BY  CHARLES  WARREN  FAIRBANKS 
Former  Vice-President  of  the  United  States 

I WAS  greatly  impressed  with  the 
w’ork  accomplished  by  Christian  mis- 
sions in  Korea.  The  progress  they  are 
making  in  the  conversion  of  the  Koreans 
to  Christianity  easily  surpassed  my  ex- 
pectations. The  history  of  Korea  is 
pathetic.  The  people  have  suffered  the 
evils  of  misgovernment  from  time  im- 
memorial. Their  natural  resources  have 
been  seriously  exhausted,  and  in  many  quarters  they  have 
become  almost  hopeless. 

^Missionaries  have  been  most  hospitably  received  by  these 
people,  who  are,  in  the  main,  kindly  disposed.  They  see  that 

7 


in  the  introduction  of  the  Christian  religion  and  the  prac- 
tices and  customs  of  Christian  people  lies  their  redemption 
from  their  unfortunate  condition.  They  are  accepting 
Christianity  with  an  eagerness  and  enthusiasm  which  are 
indeed  inspiring  and  full  of  promise.  It  was  my  privilege  to 
meet  and  address  many  of  them.  I was  struck  by  the  in- 
tensity of  their  interest  and  with  the  evident  sincerity  of 
their  professed  faith.  The  Japanese  government  has  shown 
a very  liberal  spirit  toward  Christian  missions.  The  late 
Prince  Ito,  first  Japanese  Residency-General,  adopted  2 very 
liberal  policy  with  respect  to  Christian  missions,  as  he  recog- 
nized the  need  of  their  beneficial  influence  in  the  upbuilding 
of  the  people. 

The  favor  with  which  missionaries  are  regarded  by  the 
Japanese  goverimient  in  Korea  is  disclosed  by  the  last  report 
of  the  Residency-General,  in  which  it  is  said  that  the  authori- 
ties have  given  “assurance  from  time  to  time  that  every 
possible  assistance  should  be  afforded  to  the  educational 
efforts  of  foreign  missionaries.  According  to  the  regulations 
relating  to  private  schools,  schools  maintained  by  foreign 
missionaries  may,  if  they  obtain  official  recognition,  enjoy 
such  financial  aid  and  other  privileges;  and  their  graduates 
may  receive  the  same  privileges  regarding  the  civil  service  as 
those  enjoyed  by  the  govermnent  schools  and  their  graduates, 
without  any  discrimination  whatsoever.” 

Many  of  the  natives  who  have  been  converted  to  Chris- 
tianity are  teaching  the  gospel  among  their  own  countrymen. 
Those  poor  people  (and  many  of  them  are  poor  indeed)  con- 
tribute liberally  out  of  their  scant  earnings  toward  the 
support  of  churches  and  schools  in  their  own  midst.  Their 
needs,  however,  greatly  overtax  their  ability  to  meet  them. 
It  may  be  said,  in  a word,  that  the  good  which  the  mission- 
aries are  doing  in  Korea  is  widespread  and  of  inestimable 
value.  There  is  no  movement  of  the  day  which  appeals  more 
strongly  to  the  Christians  of  the  world  than  that  which  is 
made  in  behalf  of  the  missionary  cause  of  Korea. 

Indianapolis,  Indiana. 


8 


KOREA’S  ONLY  HOPE 

BY  EARL  CRANSTON 
Bishop  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 

Having  visited  Korea  in  1898  and 
1899,  and  then  again  more  recently  in 
1907,  I have  felt  safe  in  repeatedly 
affirming  that  of  all  foreign  fields  of 
missionary  effort  Korea  is  perhaps  the 
most  hopeful  in  its  promise  of  large  and 
immediate  results;  at  the  same  time  it 
is  but  the  truth  to  say  that  it  is  one  of 
the  neediest.  The  very  poverty  and  de- 
jection of  the  people,  by  reason  of  long-continued  misrule 
and  destructive  invasion  from  without,  address  an  impor- 
tunate appeal  to  every  philanthropic  person;  while  the  social 
degradation  and  absence  of  justice  in  the  administration  of 
law  through  a long  period  of  time,  due  to  a lack  of  moral 
authority  in  the  religious  beliefs  of  the  people  (if  their  super- 
stitions may  be  called  religious),  render  hopeless  any  expec- 
tation of  self-deliverance.  How  far  better  teaching  and 
better  morals  and  higher  inspirations  may  be  expected  to 
come  from  commercial  intercourse  with  other  nations  is  a 
question  that  at  once  answers  itself.  The  only  hope  of  Korea 
is  in  the  Bible  and  the  simple  teachings  and  promises  of 
Jesus  Christ.  The  influence  of  Japan,  while  wholesome  in 
the  main,  is  not  religious;  nor  can  any  governmental  regime, 
however  wisely  conceived  or  benevolently  administered,  up- 
lift the  masses  of  Korea  until  God  and  righteousness  shall 
have  entered  their  consciousness  and  redeemed  them  unto 
better  conceptions  of  manhood  and  human  destiny. 

I do  not  wonder  that  the  friends  of  Christian  missions  are 
thrilled  and  stimulated  to  increased  benevolence  by  the 
wonderful  record  the  gospel  is  making  with  this  forlorn 
people.  I have  witnessed  the  happy  transformations  wrought 
in  many  individual  instances.  I know  the  zeal  and  self- 
sacrificing  devotion  of  our  Korean  Christians. 

9 


Our  Church  has  done  generously  for  India,  China,  and 
Africa,  but  I am  confident  that  every  lover  of  our  blessed 
Christ  will  bring  with  gladness  a special  offering  for  this 
first  Korean  jubilee. 

Washington,  D.  C. 

KOREA’S  READY  RESPONSE 

BY  SIR  ROBERT  LAIDLAW 
Member  International  Opium  Commission 

While  in  the  East  as  one  of  the 
British  delegates  attending  the  Inter- 
national Opium  Commission  at  Shang- 
hai in  the  early  part  of  last  year,  I took 
the  opportunity  of  visiting  Korea.  Dur- 
ing my  five  days  in  Seoul,  the  capital, 
I was  the  guest  of  Dr.  George  Heber 
Jones.  From  what  I had  previously 
heard  regarding  the  advance  of  Chris- 
tianity in  this  interesting  country,  I went  there  with  great 
expectations,  but  these  were  far  surpassed  by  what  I saw 
and  heard  while  on  the  spot.  The  change  of  twenty-fi  ve  years 
is  remarkable.  At  the  beginning  of  this  period  nowhervi 
in  the  East  was  there  more  prejudice  against  Christianity, 
and  nowhere  was  the  missionary  more  rigidly  excluded. 
Now  this  prejudice  has  entirely  given  way  to  an  eager  desire 
for  the  gospel  message  and  nowhere  is  the  Christian  mis- 
sionary more  welcome.  The  churches  which  I visited  were 
all  crowded  with  apparently  devout  worshipers.  I have  seen 
something  of  mission  work  in  Africa,  in  India,  m China,  and 
in  Japan,  but  I know  of  no  field  where  liberal  investments  in 
men  and  money  promise  greater  results  than  in  Korea.  The 
people  throughout  the  land  are  in  a deplorably  depressed 
condition,  but  as  they  respond  eagerly  to  evangelical  and 
educational  effort,  there  is  every  prospect  that  the  whdle 
community  will  rapidly  rise  to  better  conditions.  Missionary 
effort  in  Korea  is  almost  entirely  in  the  hands  of  American 

10 


and  Canadian  missionaries,  and  I confidently  anticipate  that 
this  will  be  the  first  compact  Eastern  people  to  become  a 
Christian  nation. 

London,  England. 

SAVE  KOREA 

BY  MERRIMAN  C.  HARRIS 

Missionary  Bishop  for  Korea  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church 

Isaiah  66.  8:  “Shall  a nation  be  born 
at  once?”  Yes.  What  nation?  Korea, 
of  course.  A quarter  of  a century 
ago  the  gospel  light  shone  upon  and 
pierced  the  thick  darkness  resting  upon 
the  “Hermit  Kingdom,”  She  saw  the 
Light,  awoke  to  consciousness  and  fol- 
lowed it.  To-day  a quarter  of  a million 
souls  have  become  children  of  the  Light 
and  bear  witness  concerning  it  to  the  people.  Whole  vil- 
lages and  communities  are  becoming  Christian.  Churches, 
schools,  hospitals,  orphanages,  asylums  for  the  blind,  the 
deaf,  spring  into  life  like  magic.  The  people  tremble  with  a 
new  power — the  youth  are  imploring  for  a Christian  educa- 
tion— the  old  is  crumbling  and  passing  away — the  new 
Christian  civilization  comes  in  with  a rush  to  fill  the  chasm 
and  make  all  things  new. 

How  is  God  meeting  this  crisis?  By  uniting  the  mission- 
aries and  Korean  Churches  into  one  body  virtually — stopping 
all  waste  and  causing  each  individual  and  Church  to  use 
their  resources  to  meet  the  situation. 

In  1907-08  God  sent  a Pentecost  which  purified  and 
spiritualized  the  wLole  Church  and  endued  it  with  witness- 
ing power.  Last  fall  he  moved  the  missionaries  to  send  out 
the  call  for  a “million  converts  in  one  year.”  The  churches 
united  in  this  movement  and  in  a few  months  purchased  and 
distributed  more  than  seven  hundred  thousand  Gospels  of 

11 


Mark  and  volunteered  more  than  a hundred  days  of  service. 
The  forces  in  Korea  as  they  march  sing; 

“A  million  souls  for  Jesus! 

A million  souls  for  Jesus! 

Lord,  this  can  surely  be: 

’Tis  not  too  much  for  thee — ” 

and  enroll  the  converts  by  the  thousand. 

The  division  of  territory  among  the  missions  has  given 
to  our  care  three  million  souls  to  be  evangelized.  For  this 
stupendous  work  we  have  twenty  missionaries  and  fifty 
thousand  Korean  Christians  of  all  classes.  What  are  these 
among  so  many?  In  our  extremity  w^e  come  to  our  Church 
of  three  million  members  and  ask  for  a special  gift  of 
$300,000,  ten  cents  a member,  to  place  missionaries  in  the 
field,  build  schools  and  hospitals,  and  equip  the  mission. 
All  missions  in  Korea  are  specializing,  because  God  has 
specially  opened  the  door  and  made  ready  a people  for  sal- 
vation. God  sends  smiling  harvests  and  prosperity,  and 
may  he  now  move  all  the  churches  to  answer  “Yes”  to 
Isaiah’s  question:  “Shall  a nation  be  born  at  once?”  and  it 
will  come  to  pass. 

Seoul,  Korea. 

KOREA  WHITE  UNTO  THE 
HARVEST 

BY  J.  WILBUR  CHAPMAN 
Leader  of  the  Revival  of  1909 

I HAVE  never  had  a more  delightful 
experience  than  that  which  came  to  me 
a few  months  ago  in  Korea.  It  was 
my  pleasure  for  many  days  to  come  in 
closest  contact  with  the  missionaries  and 
their  helpers  and  to  meet  many  of  the 
Koreans  whom  they  had  won  to  Christ. 

I have  never  met  more  consecrated 
workers  and  have  never  been  more  im- 
pressed with  the  results  of  the  efforts  put  forth  in  the  name 

12 


of  Christ,  I believe  Korea  to  be  a field  white  unto  the 
harvest  and  the  most  promising  of  any  place  I have  visited 
in  any  part  of  the  world. 

I am  eagerly  looking  forward  to  the  day  when  I may  re- 
turn to  Korea,  and  am  persuaded  that  marvelous  things 
may  be  accomplished  in  that  great  country  for  Christ,  and 
in  them  I wish  that  I might  have  a share, 

Winona,  Indiana. 

KOREA  THE  KEY  TO  A GREAT 
EUTURE 


DR.  M.  HONDA 

Former  Professor  Imperial  University,  Tokyo,  Japan.  Now 
with  Oriental  Information  Agency,  New  York 

It  is  well  known  throughout  the 
world  that  the  Christian  missionaries  in 
Korea  have  had  the  positive  assurance 
both  of  the  late  Prince  Ito  and  of  the 
present  Governor-General,  Viscount  Te- 
rauchi,  that  it  is  the  settled  policy  of 
Japan  to  secure  a harmonious  co- 
operation of  the  spiritual  uplifting  of 
the  people  and  of  their  political  reform. 
Foreign  religions  have  experienced  more  or  less  persecu- 
tion only  when  they  have  interfered  or  threatened  to  inter- 
fere with  the  political  stability  of  the  nation.  So  long  as 
the  Korean  Christians  try  to  better  their  general  condition 
through  individual  regeneration,  the  Government  is  sure  to 
protect  and  even  to  encourage  them  in  their  faith.  The 
appointment  of  Japanese  Christians  to  such  important  posts 
as  the  Supreme  Court  Judgeship  and  the  Director-General- 
ship of  the  Peninsular  Government  sufficiently  testifies  to  the 
sincerity  of  purpose  of  the  Tokyo  authorities.  Aside  from 
this  fact,  there  is  too  an  encouraging  sign  in  the  moral  stand- 
ard of  the  Japanese  officials  in  Korea.  Whatever  may  be 

13 


the  limitations  of  the  military  leaders,  no  one  doubts  the 
influence  of  Viscount  Terauchi  as  a strict  disciplinarian,  and 
he  is  assisted  by  a man  of  well  known  moral  rectitude,  Vice- 
Governor-General  Isaburo  Yamagata.  They,  with  a Christian 
as  Director-General,  seem  to  have  succeeded  in  stamping  out 
manj"  of  the  vicious  practices  of  Seoul  society,  and  in  purify- 
ing the  general  atmosphere  of  Japanese  officialdom  there. 

It  is  a phase  of  human  nature  that  mankind  is  often  led  to 
religion  through  temporal  disappointments.  We  can  clearly 
see  the  hand  of  Providence  in  it.  Under  the  feudal  system 
of  rigid  class  distinction,  sons  of  farmers  or  of  traders,  how- 
ever brilliant  in  intellect,  could  not  easily  aspire  to  a political 
or  military  career.  Many  of  them,  therefore,  devoted  them- 
selves to  the  study  of  medicine  or  religion,  the  two  noblest 
callings  open  to  their  choice,  and  thus  became  healers  either 
of  the  bod}’’  or  of  the  soul.  Xay,  more!  Was  it  not  when 
their  political  ambitions  had  been  thwarted  that  the  Greatest 
Healer  attempted  the  spiritual  clarifjdng  of  the  Jewish 
minds? 

Both  internal  and  external  causes  have  conspired  for  ages 
to  make  the  Koreans  political  unfortunates,  but  now,  at  last, 
they  have  a fair  chance  of  rising  to  a far  higher  plane,  that 
of  spiritual  leadership.  Suppose  they  should  prove  to  be 
the  first  people,  outside  of  old  Christendom,  to  be  Chris- 
tianized as  a body,  as  there  are  reasonable  hopes  that  they 
will  be,  may  we  not  again  witness  a recrudescence  of  that 
Asian  culture  which,  fifteen  centuries  ago,  the  Koreans  were 
instrumental  in  bringing  to  Japan?  For  the  Japanese  them- 
selves cannot  lag  behind  the  Koreans  in  assimilating  whatever 
is  good  and  noble  in  the  world.  Japan,  thus  regenerated 
spiritually  as  well  as  politically,  could  rightly  claim  a leading 
position  in  the  affairs  of  the  Far  East.  That  Korea  should 
be  the  key  to  this  great  future,  even  through  her  temporal 
tribulations,  is  the  prayer  not  only  of  Japanese  Christians, 
but  also  of  all  liberal-minded  people  in  Japan,  and  their 
prayer  seems  about  to  be  answered. 

Xew  York  City. 


14 


KOREA  READY  FOR  THE  GOSPEL 

JOHN  B.  SLEMAN,  JR. 

Member  Executive  Committee,  Laymen’s  Missionary 
Movement 

After  two  months  of  journeyings  in 
Japan  and  China,  including  attendance 
upon  the  World’s  Student  Christian 
Federation  Conference  in  Tokyo  and 
the  Centenary  Conference  at  Shanghai, 
came  the  never-to-be-forgotten  week  in 
Korea — the  climax  of  our  trip — giving 
us  the  proof  of  the  power  of  the  gospel 
to  literally  transform  great  sections  of  a 
heathen  nation  in  a single  generation. 

Our  first  day  was  a Sunday.  Fortunately  for  us  it  was 
the  day  upon  which  members  were  being  received  into  the 
Methodist  Church  in  Seoul.  Forty-five  men  and  twenty 
women  stood  before  the  altar  and  took  upon  themselves  the 
obligations  of  church  membership.  All  of  them  had  been  on 
probation  for  two  years,  and  we  were  told  that  most,  if  not 
all  of  them,  had  been  the  means  of  bringing  others  into  the 
Christian  life  before  they  had  been  themselves  admitted  into 
the  fellowship  of  the  Church. 

Then  came  the  trip  to  Pyeng  Yang,  where  the  year  before 
a revival,  comparable  only  to  the  wonderful  Welsh  revival, 
had  taken  place.  Fifteen  years  previously  this  town  of  fifty 
thousand  people  was  the  most  wicked  and  debased  place  in 
all  Korea — now  it  was  filled  with  happy  Christians,  with  six 
or  seven  churches,  Christian  schools  for  boys  and  girls, 
where  before  there  were  no  schools  at  all;  a hospital  in  place 
of  utter  neglect  in  all  matters  of  sanitation  and  health;  a 
college  for  boys,  and  a theological  seminary  with  eighty 
students. 

Thirty-three  hundred  people  met  in  mid-week  prayer 
meeting  every  week.  All  the  churches  were  crowded  on 
Sunday.  A missionary  work  in  all  the  outlying  country  was 

15 


conducted  by  Korean  Christians  themselves,  while  rapid 
extension  of  schools  and  organization  of  churches  for  groups 
of  Christians  in  all  the  country  round  about  was  in  progress. 
This  is  a story  in  brief  outline  of  a marvelous  transforma- 
tion. It  is  typical.  All  Korea  is  ready  for  the  gospel.  We 
have  no  assurance  that  the  w^ay  will  alwa3^s  be  as  open  as  it 
is  now.  Every  consideration  of  economy"  and  strategy  urges 
us  to  an  immediate  and  complete  occupation  of  a field  “ripe 
unto  the  harvest.” 

Washington,  D.  C. 

NO  CHRISTIAN  DEFECTION  IN 

KOREA 

BY  GEORGE  HEBER  JONES 
Missionary  to  Korea  and  Executive  Secretary  of  the 
Korea  Quarter-Centennial  ^lovement 

The  Independent  has  made  the  follow- 
ing statement : “It  will  be  very  interesting 
to  observe  what  will  be  the  effect  of  the 
annexation  of  Korea  by  Japan  on  Chris- 
tian Missions  in  that  country.  The 

people  had  been  going  over  to  Christian- 
ity by  the  tens  of  thousands,  and  it 
was  the  design  to  work  to  secure  a 
million  new  adherents  this  jTar.  But 
doubtless  many  who  professed  Christianity  did  so  for 
political  reasons,  because  they  got  the  idea  it  would  help 
Korea  against  Japan.  We  have  feared  that  annexation 
would  be  followed  by  a falling  away,  and  such  may  be  the 
case.  A Japanese  paper  publishes  a telegram  from  Che- 
mulpo that  ‘the  Christians  in  Korea  continue  to  fall  away, 
in  spite  of  severe  attempts  of  the  missionaries  to  thwart 
their  defection.  It  seems  to  have  grown  to  be  quite  a fashion 
there,  and  even  in  the  district  of  Chemulpo,  the  port  of 
Seoul,  a falling  off  of  forty  per  cent  in  the  number  of  adherents 
is  noted.’  ” 


16 


The  facts  made  known  to  us  from  the  missionaries,  who 
are  best  acquainted  with  the  whole  situation,  are  as  follows: 
The  paper  from  which  the  rumor  given  currency  by  The 
Independent  emanates  has  been  known  for  its  violent  anti- 
Christian  sentiments,  and  on  at  least  one  occasion  of  which 
we  have  knowledge,  it  was  censured  by  the  Governor- 
General  for  circulating  mischievous  and  false  statements 
concerning  Christianity  in  Korea.  Over  against  the  state- 
ment of  the  paper  that  there  has  been  a falling  off  of  forty 
per  cent  in  the  Christian  adherents  in  Chemulpo  is  the  direct 
statement  from  the  Rev.  W.  A.  Noble,  district  superintend- 
ent of  the  work  in  that  region,  to  the  effect  that  not  only 
has  there  been  no  defection  among  the  Christians,  but  that 
as  the  result  of  the  recent  special  evangelistic  movement, 
several  hundred  were  added  to  our  Church  in  the  city  of 
Chemulpo  itself.  Furthermore,  at  the  last  session  of  the  Korea 
Annual  Conference  the  three  Methodist  Episcopal  churches 
in  the  city  of  Seoul  showed  a net  gain  in  membership  of 
2,500.  During  the  month  of  October  a special  evan- 
gelistic campaign  was  carried  on  in  the  capital  city,  in  which 
the  ]\Iethodist  and  Presbyterian  churches  united,  during 
which  over  ten  thousand  Koreans  signed  cards  expressing 
their  determination  to  become  Christians,  and  it  is  reported 
that  fully  five  hundred  of  these  have  already  joined  the 
Church. 

Following  the  campaign  in  Seoul  special  efforts  were 
undertaken  in  other  missionary  centers.  At  Pyeng  Yang 
it  is  reported  that  two  thousand  have  been  added  to  the 
Christian  Church.  In  one  of  the  country  districts  over  a 
thousand  have  given  up  heathenism  to  become  followers 
of  our  Lord.  These  reports  might  be  multiplied. 

The  suggestion  that  many  who  have  joined  the  Church 
may  have  done  so  for  political  reasons,  because  they  got  the 
idea  that  it  would  help  Korea  against  Japan,  is  misleading, 
for  if  thus  it  is  intended  to  claim  that  the  only  motive  im- 
pelling these  people  to  join  the  Christian  Church  is  that  of 
lodging  a protest  against  Japan  or  of  securing  a base  by 

17 


"which  they  may  operate  against  the  new  government,  the 
claim  is  utterly  aside  from  the  facts  of  the  situation.  It  is 
the  universal  testimony  of  many  laymen  and  tourists  who 
have  visited  Korea,  as  well  as  of  the  missionaries,  that  the 
Korean  converts  are  men  animated  by  sincere  and  genuine 
motives  in  accepting  Christianity.  There  is  no  doubt  that 
the  political  sorrows  of  their  nation  have  led  the  Koreans 
to  turn  to  the  comfort  and  consolation  and  the  hope  of 
better  things  found  only  in  the  Christian  gospel.  But  never 
with  the  idea  of  political  betterment. 

The  Independent  also  alludes  questioningly  to  the  Million 
Movement — the  movement  undertaken  to  add  one  million 
<jonverts  to  the  Christian  Church  in  Korea.  This  movement 
was  due  largely  to  the  impetus  and  the  more  clearly  outlined 
direction  given  to  mission  work  by  the  visit  of  Dr.  J.  Wilbur 
(diapman  and  his  force  of  evangelistic  workers  in  1909. 
Again  quoting  from  the  recent  letter  of  Dr.  W.  A.  Noble,  we 
are  told  that  “There  will  be  thousands  added  to  our  Church 
this  year.”  This  is  the  case  with  all  the  other  churches.  So 
thoroughly  organized  is  the  movement,  and  so  great  is  the 
evangelistic  dynamic  shown  in  the  life  and  service  of  the 
rank  and  file  of  the  Christian  Church  in  Korea,  that  we 
believe  that  the  day  is  not  far  in  the  future,  though  it  may 
take  several  years  to  realize  it,  when  our  friend.  The  Inde- 
pendent, will  have  the  privilege  of  recording  the  fact  that 
the  Korean  Church  has  reached  the  astonishing  goal  set 
by  the  Million  Movement. 

New"  York  City. 


Further  information  and  Literature  may  be  secured  by  v/riting  the 
Korea  Quarter-Centennial  Movement,  150  Fifth  Avenue,  New  York 
City. 


18 


ACTION  OF  THE  GENERAL 
CONFERENCE 


Whereas,  There  is  to  be  held  in  Korea,  in  September,  1910,  by  all  the 
Protestant  Missions  at  work  in  that  land,  the  quarter-centennial  cele- 
bration of  the  opening  of  the  Hermit  Kingdom  to  the  heralds  of  the 
cross;  and. 

Whereas,  The  Missionary  Society  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
in  1884  made  its  first  appropriation  for  the  establishing  of  missionary 
work  in  Korea,  and  the  missionaries  appointed  arrived  and  began  their 
work  in  May,  1885,  and  God’s  signal  blessing  has  so  rested  upon  the 
labors  of  our  Church  in  Korea  that  now,  after  twenty-five  years  of 
service,  we  have  under  our  care  more  than  40,000  Koreans  who  have 
forsaken  their  idols  and  ancestral  worship;  and. 

Whereas,  It  is  not  possible  for  the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  to  make 
adequate  appropriations  to  equip  the  Mission  and  provide  the  additional 
property  demanded  by  the  needs  of  the  vast  numbers  for  whom  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  is  directly  responsible,  and  who  are  turning 
by  the  tens  of  thousands  to  us  for  the  privileges  of  the  gospel  and  pas- 
toral care;  and. 

Whereas,  The  annual  meeting  of  the  Korean  Mission  in  1907  pro- 
jected plans  for  the  celebration  in  1910  of  the  Silver  Jubilee  of  the 
founding  of  our  work  in  Korea; 

RESOLVED,  THAT  THE  GENERAL  CONFERENCE  APPROVES 
THIS  PROJECT  TO  CELEBRATE  IN  THE  YEAR  1910  KOREA’S 
SILVER  JUBILEE,  AND  RECOMMENDS  TO  THE  BOARD  OF 
FOREIGN  MISSIONS  THAT  IT  APPOINT  A COMMISSION  TO 
PUT  IN  OPERATION  SUCH  PLANS  AS  MAY  BE  DEEMED 
DESIRABLE. 


THE  CALL  OF  THE  BISHOPS 


The  year  1910  brings  the  Quarter-Centennial  Anniversary  of  our 
Mission  in  Korea.  The  history  of  this  Mission  has  been  remarkable 
indeed,  without  parallel  in  modern  Missionary  achievement.  At  the 
end  of  twenty-five  years,  through  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel,  and  the 
work  of  our  schools,  we  have  50,000  members  and  probationers  in  our 
care.  Under  the  influence  of  the  recent  great  revival,  which  has 
affected  the  Missions  of  all  the  churches,  there  has  developed  a movement 
of  the  people  in  large  numbers  toward  Christianity.  This  remarkable 
fact  created  an  emergency  In  which  the  call  of  God  to  His  enlightened 
people  may  not  be  set  aside.  Nothing  can  just  now  be  more  important 
than  to  meet  these  inquiring  millions  with  the  truth  for  which  they  are 
hungering,  and  which  alone  can  deliver  them  from  the  thralldom  im- 
posed by  their  former  superstitions.  In  the  presence  of  this  crisis,  not- 
withstanding all  that  has  been  undertaken  in  very  recent  years  for 
Inaia,  China  and  Africa,  we  would  be  recreant  to  every  impulse  of  love, 

19 


as  well  as  duty,  should  we  fail  to  call  upon  our  people  for  special  recogni- 
tion of  this  Anniversary,  already  so  gloriously  anticipated  by  the  outpour  - 
ing of  the  Divine  Spirit  upon  Korea.  The  gravity  of  our  responsibility 
and  the  immediate  urgency  of  this  call  must  appear  to  every  one,  even 
more  clearly  in  view  of  the  fact  that  by  the  recent  understanding  be- 
tw^een  the  churches  operating  in  Korea,  over  3,000,000  of  the  population 
have  been  set  apart  for  whose  evangelization  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  must  assume  entire  responsibility. 

We  therefore  call  upon  our  people  to  make  for  Korea  a special  Thank 
Offering  commensurate  wdth  the  opportunity  thus  providentially  placed 
before  them,  in  addition  to  their  regular  contributions  for  our  mission- 
ary treasury.  Where  God  has  been  so  generous,  let  not  His  people  fail 
in  prompt  and  generous  co-operation.  Remember,  this  is  not  a call  for 
tne  handful  of  seed  for  the  sowing,  it  is  THE  IMMEDIATE  AND 
URGENT  DEMAND  FOR  THE  SAVING  OF  THE  HARVEST 
WHICH  FOLLOWED  OUR  SEED-SOWING. 


ACTION  OF  THE  GENERAL  COM- 
MITTEE OF  FOREIGN  MISSIONS 

Whereas,  The  General  Conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
convened  in  Baltimore  in  May,  1908,  authorized  the  celebration  in 
1910,  by  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  of  the  Quarter-Centennial  of 
the  founding  of  the  Korea  Mission,  and  instructed  the  Board  of  Foreign 
Missions  to  take  such  measures  as  may  be  necessary  to  fittingly  obsei've 
this  historic  event;  and, 

Whereas,  Our  Mission  in  Korea  during  the  past  twenty-five  years  has 
had  unprecedented  growth,  so  that  it  includes  a total  of  43,814  church 
members,  probationers,  and  adherents,  as  shovn  by  the  last  annual 
report;  and. 

Whereas.  Our  many  thousands  of  probationers  so  recently  gathered 
from  paganism  must  suffer  a disastrous  reaction  unless  the  facilities  for 
instruction  and  guidance  are  greatly  enlarged;  and. 

Whereas,  In  the  partition  made  by  the  various  Protestant  Chtirches 
working  in  Korea  there  has  been  assigned  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  2,025,000  as  our  fair  proportion  of  the  population  for  whose 
evangelization  we  are  responsible,  thus  placing  us  under  a special  obli- 
gation to  greatly  strengthen  the  efficiency  of  our  agencies  in  Korea; 
therefore, 

RESOLVED.  THAT  WE  COMMEND  THE  KOREA  MISSION. 
DURING  ITS  QUARTER-CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION.  TO  THE 
LIBERAL  SUPPORT  OF  OUR  PASTORS  AND  THE  LAYMEN  OF 
OUR  CHURCH  SO  FAR  AS  THEY  MAY  BE  LED  OF  GOD  TO  CON- 
TRIBUTE TO  IT  OVER  AND  ABOVE  THE  REGULAR  CONTRI- 
BUTIONS TO  THE  BOARD  OF  FOREIGN  MISSIONS. 


20 


